Member State free to decide
France wants to ban glyphosate by 2020
French President Emmanuel Macron has criticized a 5-year extension for the herbicide glyphosate in the European Union (EU). He argues for a period of 3 years. European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis gives the country free rein. "The authorization of glyphosate is in the hands of each individual member state," he said.
France, one of the major agricultural member states, is a staunch opponent of glyphosate and has voted several times against a 1-year extension. Due to Germany's abstention, it was possible to postpone a decision. However, after German agriculture minister Christian Schmidt unexpectedly opted for the 'yes' camp, France was left on its own. That is against the sore leg of President Macron, who wants to allow glyphosate for a maximum of 5 years.
Member States free to decide
"If Emmanuel Macron opts for a 3-year extension, this is completely in line with European regulations," says Vytenis Andriukaitis. He is the European Commissioner for Public Health. "The authorization of products containing the active ingredient glyphosate is entirely in the hands of each individual Member State." The European Commission (EC) only decides on the allocation of glyphosate itself. For France, this concerns a total of 700 products that contain the active ingredient.
On Friday December 1, the French Ministry of Agriculture and Environment received a report on glyphosate, prepared by INRA (Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique). The institute has set up a plan to phase out glyphosate over a period of 3 years and develop alternatives.
Scaling up research
"There is no quick solution to finding a replacement," said INRA chairman Philippe Mauguin. “The answer lies in a combination of different approaches. It is about plant breeding, agronomy and an organic approach.” The French president has called for scaling up research and development to and from alternatives. This is to be able to ban glyphosate within 3 years. INRA's plan is now being examined by the French ministry. A definitive action plan should be ready at the beginning of 2018.
Glyphosate is indispensable
French farmers and agricultural advocates fear that the sector will fall behind due to a ban and therefore lose their competitive position. According to AGPB, the wheat producers' association, a glyphosate ban will cost an additional €900 million per year. The herbicide is indispensable, especially in plowless tillage. A ban on glyphosate means that 'conservative agriculture' will take place less. This means fewer green manures, more plowing and negative consequences for the climate. That is how the agricultural sector judges.
900
million
According to them, Macron is digging the sector's grave. Glyphosate is just the tip of the iceberg. The president is after more crop protection products. In November this already led to protests on the Champs-Élysées.
German initiative
In Germany too, politicians are busy with the glyphosate discussion. Andrea Nahles, party chairman of the SPD, announced in the Bundestag on Monday 4 December that he wanted to take initiatives to ban glyphosate after all. "If we don't take action, biodiversity in our country will decline. We cannot let the agricultural lobby decide which resources are allowed. We will not let that happen."
Niels van der Boom
© DCA Market Intelligence. This market information is subject to copyright. It is not permitted to reproduce, distribute, disseminate or make the content available to third parties for compensation, in any form, without the express written permission of DCA Market Intelligence.
